Elevator for ash-cans and the like.



R. MES SLIN. ELEVATOR FOR ASH CANS AND THE LIKE. A

APPLICATION FILED JULY 23, 1909. Patented Mar. 14

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R. MESSLIN.

ELEVATOR FOR ASH CANS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION rum JULY 23, 1909986,483, Patented Mar. 14, 1911.

\ INVENTOR 1 B Attorneys, l

UNITED STATES RUDOLPH MESSLIN,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELEVATOR FOR ASH-CANS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1911.

Application filed July 23, 1909. Serial No. 509,127.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH MESSLIN, a subject of the Emperor ofAustria-Hum gary, residing in the borough of Manhattan, city, county,and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Elevators for Ash-Cans or the Like, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention aims to provide certain improvements in inclinedelevators preferably operated by hand, and preferably in com binationwith skids or equivalent means for safely returning the articles to thelower level.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an apparatus embodying theinvention.

Figure l is a side elevation omitting the skids and supporting mechanismtherefor; Fig. 2 is a plan of the lower end; Fig. 3 is a plan partly insection of the upper end; Fig. 4 is a cross-section approximately on theline 44 of Fig. 1; Figs. 5 and 6 are side elevations showing the skidsin their operative and in their inoperative positions respectively; Fig.7 is a crosssection on the line 77 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the apparatusis of the endless chain type, and the main support consists of a beam A,preferably an integral Wooden beam of rectangular cross-section andextending continuously throughout the length of the elevator. A chain Bruns upward over the top of the beam and downward under its bottom, andis guided by lower and upper pulleys C and D respectively at the ends ofthe beam; one of said pulleys, the lower one ,for example, beingadjustable by means of the screws E or any other suitable mechanism totake up wear of the chain and keep it as taut as necessary. Any suitablemeans may be provided for propelling the chain and carrying the can Fgradually up the incline. In fact in some situations it may be possibleto push the can up directly. Preferably, however, the chain is driven bythe lower pulley, which latter is turned by means of sprocket wheels Land M and a crank N near the lower end of the beam. For preventingbackward movement a pawl N is provided engaging a ratchet N on the shaftof the upper sprocket wheel.

Such a stop might equally well be provided at any one of various otherpoints.

The apparatus shown is especially designed for elevating cans F of ashesor the like from a cellar floor Gr to an adjacent sidewalk H, though itmay be used in a variety of situations and for elevating avariety ofarticles. The beam is supported by means of legs J resting upon thefloor and legs K resting against the face of the sidewalk or thevertical cellar wall, which legs are spread apart as shown in Figs. 2and 3 to permit the passage of the cleats hereinafter referred to.

For cans or similar articles there are pref erably provided pairs ofcleats O and P which are carried along with the chain and upon which thebottom of the can rests as in Fig. 3, these cleats being provided withuprights Q, fastened in slots in the ends of the cleats so as to beadjustable obliquely toward the chain and to accommodate cans ofdifferent diameters, each of the rear uprights being preferably providedwith a transverse roller Q which makes direct engagement with the can.The cleats O and P are firmly attached to the chain, and for cans ofdifferent sizes it is only necessary to adjust the uprights Q,- inwardor outward. In addition a fixed upright S (preferably having a similartransverse roller) is pro-- vided directly upon a link of the chain andadapted to engage the rearmost point of the can. The upright S and theuprights on the cleat P push the can up. The uprights on the cleat O areuseful only for steadying the can. The cleat P may be made thicker ifdesired so as to bring the rear edge of the can upward, and to bring thecan to a vertical position F (Fig. 1) or to an approximately verticalposition, although a considerable inclination may be allowed .withoutharm, especially where the can is fitted within the five uprights. Theentire construction as before stated is car ried upon a simple beam A.The cleats O and P extend a substantial distance to each side of thebeam, and are guided by means of depending arms T (Fig. 4:) carryingrollers U and V which respectively engage the top and bottom of flangesprovided on the edges of the supporting beam. These flanges are providedat the upper edges by means of angle irons W fastened to the side facesof the beam, and at the lower edges by means of a plate X extendingentirely across the base of the beam. Either the plate or the angleirons may be used. at both top and bottom, or any other convenientconstructions may be adopted, those shown being particularly easy ofapplication to a wooden beam. With these guides the can is preventedfrom tilting laterally, and is carried easily along from the bottom tothe top of the beam, where its nose engages the angle of the sidewalkand it is gradually pushed upon the sidewalk as the chain continues toadvance. When this is accomplished the next pair of cleats O, P, is atthe bottom of the beam, and the new can may be applied thereon. Only twopairs of cleats are necessary where it is desired to raise a single canat. a time, as where the apparatus is to be worked by one man who has toplace the cans on the elevator as well as to operate the crank.

For returning the empty cans a pair of cleats or some equivalent meansfor sliding the cans down gently is preferably provided. Such cleats areshown at Y extending alongside of the beam A in vertical planes justoutside of the ends of the cleats O and P and adapted to be raised abovethe level of the cleats to the position of Figs. 5 and 7 or lowered tothe position of Figs. 4: and 6. In the raised position the cleats Ysupport the can on its side at such an elevation that it clears thecleats and the upright rollers R so that it can slide freely down to thebottom and on to the floor G. In the lowered position the skids are outof the way so as to avoid interference with the can in its upwardmovement. The skids Y are mounted pivotally on the ends of a number ofarms Z located in pairs on opposite sides of the beam A and connected bymeans of shafts a passing through the beam. The lowermost of these shafta is provided with an operating handle Z) whereby the lowermost arms Zcan be swung upward or downward, carrying with them the skids Y, theother arms Z serving as supports and in suring a parallel motion of theskids. Means are provided for locking the arm 5 so as to hold the skidsup in operative position, such means consisting of a notched plate 0carried by the beam, and a pivoted tooth cl carried by a spring-actuatedgripping lever c on the handle I). When the lever e is gripped thehandle 2') may be swung freely. When it is swung down to bring the toothd in register with the notch in the plate 0 and is released, it springsinto this notch and holds the parts looked as in Fig. 5.

A speed reducing gear may be provided between the crank and the chain soas to make possible the lifting of heavy weights without too great aneffort. It is within the main principle of the invention to utillzeI-bcams or built-up metal constructions in place of the wooden beam Awith its metal flanges.

Various other changes may be made in details and in the arrangement andcombination of the parts by those skilled in the art, without departingfrom the invention.

hat I claim is 1. An apparatus of the character described, including incombination an inclined elevator and skids permanently attached thereto,said elevator and skids being proportioned for use with the samearticles and adapted to be brought alternately into operative position,so that such articles may be elevated and lowered by the same apparatus.

2. An inclined elevator in combination with skids upon which thearticles elevated on the elevator may be lowered, said skids beingmovable to operative position to sup port such articles above theelevator and to inoperative position below the path of articles carriedby the elevator.

8. An inclined elevator including an inclined support and meansextending along the upper face thereof for elevating articles, and skidssupported from the sides of said support and movable to positions aboveand below the path of articles carried by said elevating means.

4. An apparatus of the character described, including in combination aninclined elevator and skids permanently attached thereto and adapted tobe brought alternately into operative position, said elevator and skidsbeing proportioned so that the former supports cans in an approXimatelyupright position and the skids support the same cans on their sides, sothat such cans may be elevated in upright position and lowered on theirsides by the same apparatus.

5. An inclined elevator including an integral beam, a continuous chainextending over the top and bottom and around the ends of said beam,guide pulleys for said chain fastened on the ends of said beam, cleatscarried by said chain for engaging the articles to be lifted andlongitudinal guides on said beam for guiding said cleats, said beamsupporting the weight of said chain and of the articles carried thereby.

6. An inclined elevator including an in tegral beam, a continuous chainextending over the top and bottom and around the ends of said beam,guide pulleys for said chain fastened on the ends of said beam, cleatscarried by said chain for engaging the articles to be lifted andlongitudinal guides on said beam for guiding said cleats, said beamsupporting the weight of said chain and of the articles carried thereby,and legs of said beam, cleats carried by said chain for engaging thearticles to be lifted, and longitudinal metal guides on said beam forguiding said cleats.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftWo subscribing Witnesses.

RUDOLPH MESSLIN. Witnesses:

D. ANTHONY USINA, FRED WHITE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

